OTTAWA – NDP MP Lise St. Denis is switching teams and joining the Liberals on the eve of the Grits biennial policy convention.
St. Denis represents Saint-Maurice-Champlain in Quebec.
“Since my arrival in the House of Commons, I have carefully listened to the speeches made by Liberals MPs. I recognize today not only the collective value of their work but more so their sense of duty and commitment,” said St. Denis.
Get breaking National news
It’s big news for the embattled party who was relegated to third-party status for the first time in its history after the 2011 election. The crossover increases the Liberal number of seats to 35 from 34.
“The choice I have made today is that of a woman free to express her opinion and which bases her political future on the country’s needs and the pragmatism necessary to the survival of our institutions, our social programs and the values hat make the greatness of our nation,” said St. Denis.
Other notable party defections include Belinda Stronach, a Tory MP, who joined the Liberals as a cabinet minister in Paul Martin’s government. Former Liberal MP David Emerson joined the ranks of the Tory cabinet in 2006, surprising his former Liberal caucus by showing up for the swearing in ceremony for the newly elected Conservative government at Rideau Hall.
- Winter storms, rain and snow wallopping Canada. Here’s where you’ll see it
- ‘We do not give in to terror’: Canadians voice support for Sydney Hanukkah shooting victims
- ‘Really challenging issue’: Many B.C. communities still at high risk for flooding
- Cold warnings across the Prairies forecast wind-chill temperatures near -45 C
Comments